Nothing says ‘Invest in Our Planet’ – this year’s Earth Day theme – quite like a quality timepiece made of sustainable materials. Imagine a watch that leaves no trace when it’s retired. No more old watch batteries dumped in landfills. Manufacturing and employee engagement processes aimed at greater sustainability. Pretty cool, huh?
Unfortunately, many in the Swiss watch and jewelry sector have been slow to pick up the torch for sustainability. A 2018 World Wildlife Fund study queried 15 Swiss watch manufacturers on their ecological practices, and of the 15 companies, not one made it into its top two categories of Frontrunner and Visionary. However, I.W.C. Schaffhausen and several of its fellow Richemont Group partners scored the best, ranking well ahead of powerhouses like Rolex, Omega, and Swatch.
In 2018, I.W.C. was the first watch company to release a company sustainability report and today continues to set goals for creating transparent and socially responsible business practices. These include ensuring all of the metals and gems used in its watches are certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (R.J.C.) and purchasing 100 percent renewable energy.
Today, more and more high-value global watch producers have realized that supporting fair trade mining, humane labor conditions, and using recyclable materials can change the industry for the better. The watch repair experts at Times Ticking took a look at some of the brands leading out in the green sector and came up with five of their favorite eco-friendly watches.
Citizen Eco-Drive
One of the first in the field of sustainable watch brands, Citizen unveiled its Eco-Drive in 1976 as an answer to one of the world’s worst energy crises. Citizen watchmakers engineered the Eco-Drive to run entirely on light from both natural and artificial sources, making it the world’s first light-powered analog quartz watch.
Eco-Drive watches use one of two different types of solar cells – a round disk that sits under a translucent dial or a flexible, round solar ring that sits on top of the dial. The cell absorbs the light and converts it into enough energy to power the watch for up to six months on a single charge. With an Eco-Drive, you won’t have to waste time finding a Citizen watch repair shop to change the battery.
In addition, Citizen has expanded its green power to donate 1 percent of its overall U.S. website sales to support environmentally-focused nonprofit groups.
IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Jacques-Yves Cousteau”
The Expedition Cousteau represents a perfect blending of luxury and sustainability with its beautiful blue dial and durable stainless steel case. I.W.C. became the Cousteau Society’s first commercial sponsor in 2004 and today continues to support the organization’s mission and initiatives to save and protect marine life all over the globe.
At the outset, I.W.C. agreed with the society that theirs would not be an ordinary partnership with heavy merchandising and company logos everywhere. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything referring to I.W.C. on the Cousteau Society website, other than in a few pictures. The sponsorship agreement allows the society to utilize I.W.C. equipment and funding for its projects. At the same time, I.W.C. has exclusive use of the famous explorer’s name for its limited-edition Acquatimer Cousteau Divers watches.
While other luxury dive brands offer a percentage of their sales to support cleaning the ocean and other marine conservation efforts, I.W.C. has been in the business of protecting our oceans for almost two decades now.
Chopard L.U.C. Flying T Twin
Another luxury brand on the cutting edge of environmental responsibility is Chopard. The limited-edition L.U.C. Flying T Twin has all the makings of an ultra-luxurious timepiece, coupled with the social responsibility of your average tree-hugger. With 189 moving parts, this watch boasts a flying tourbillon movement housed in an ultra-thin, fairmined rose gold case.
Unless your name is Bill Gates, this piece of wrist machinery is probably out of your price range, but it’s nonetheless a beauty to behold. And knowing that the gold used to construct the case came from a mine where there was no child labor or unnecessary deforestation makes it that much better. Chopard also uses vegetal tanning for the alligator leather straps, a lengthy natural tanning process that doesn’t use chemicals or other biohazards.
Mondaine Essence
On the vastly more affordable side, there’s the Mondaine Essence. Mondaine, known for its signature watch face patterned after the Swiss Railway (S.B.B.) clock, launched the Essence in 2017. This timepiece symbolizes this family-owned company’s commitment to socially responsible business and manufacturing practices, as roughly 70 percent of it is made with renewable materials. That includes using organic plastics in the case and vegan straps designed from cork lining and P.E.T. water bottles.
Mondaine’s eco-friendly actions also extend beyond the materials used in the Essence collection. The company’s watch factory in Biberist, Switzerland, has its own photovoltaic power station, which supplied roughly 80 percent of the facility’s energy in 2019. Furthermore, in 2020, Mondaine became one of the first watch companies to achieve net-zero emissions in all business areas, including manufacturing, packaging, and power usage.
Solios Mini White
Last but certainly not least on our list is Solios. Established in 2019, Solios is the world’s first Certified B Corporation watch company and offers consumers high-quality, elegant watches that exemplify 100 percent sustainability. The Mini Solar White, along with every other Solios timepiece, runs completely on light energy. Like the Citizen, you can charge the Solios with natural or artificial light, and two hours of exposure will power your watch for around six months.
The Mini Solar White movement resides in a recycled 316L stainless steel case under a hardened mineral glass crystal. The watch also sports a cruelty-free vegan leather strap, which is both synthetic and non-toxic. If that weren’t enough, this stellar Canadian newcomer commits to restoring an acre of rainforest for every watch sold.
While many in the watch industry have a long way to go toward full sustainability, several companies are doing a lot to ensure that owning a high-quality timepiece doesn’t mean inadvertently supporting harmful environmental or social practices. Seems like a great way to celebrate Earth Day.
At Times Ticking, we’re proud to keep your Earth-conscious watches ticking. We’re happy to repair your Citizen Eco-Drive watch or any other environmentally-friendly watch. As our motto goes, “If it ticks, we know it.”
